To help the workforce prepare for our 2030 closure, Mt Arthur Coal is paying for teammates to undertake any nationally recognised training or education program.

One teammate taking up this offer is Production Operator, Craig, whose role primarily involves driving trucks and training new-to-industry teammates how to operate them.

Craig said that after Mt Arthur Coal closes, his first preference would be to stay in the mining industry.

“But I want to be prepared in case that doesn’t work out, so I’ve come up with a Plan B,” Craig said.

“I was looking at industries where I could apply my skill set and thought the railway industry was a good match,” he said.

“I’ve done a number of short courses to get qualified as a Track Protection Officer, which is where you inspect track repairs to ensure the area’s safe.”

“With that in my back pocket, I’m now turning my attention back to Plan A which is broadening my skill set within the mining industry.”

“I’d like to move into workplace health and safety, so later this year I want to get ICAM (Incident Cause Analysis Method) certified.”

“This will give me the skills to help investigate safety incidents and build my experience in workplace health and safety,” he said.

This strategic approach reflects Craig’s motto of, “you grow as you go.”

“You can sit back and wait, or you can work towards making yourself better,” he said.

“It’s rare for a company to be willing to help you transition to another field; so, I’ve been telling all my teammates to find something they want to do and take the opportunity to get those skills.”